‘Lion King’ Broadway to be performed in Mandarin for first time at Shanghai Disney resort

AH zabenya. The Broadway musical “The Lion King” will be performed for the first time ever in Mandarin at the currently under-construction Shanghai Disney resort, the resident and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions said yesterday.Cast auditions are slated to begin this summer in China, but unfortunately for foreigners who came here seeking quasi-celebrity, they’re focused mainly on local talent.The Broadway-style theater will seat 12,000 guests and will be situated at the resort’s retail, dining and entertainment center adjacent to the Shanghai Disneyland theme park. It’s all expected to be open by 2015, but Disney still says there’s more to do than has ever been done.Going on its 17th year, “The Lion King” is one of the most popular stage musicals in the world as well as the highest-grossing Broadway show in New York. To date, it’s played 19 countries on every continent except Antarctica.In another first for Shanghai’s upcoming Disney hoopla, the resort announced in March that one of the Shanghai Disney park’s six themed lands would be inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean, making it the first-ever Pirates-themed land in a Disney Park.Shanghai still won’t have its own special Disney Line.